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Open-LIFU Developer Documentation

Document ID: ER-00015 · Revision: A · Software: v1.19.0 Released: 2026-05-07 Authors: David Paribello, Peter Hollender, George Vigelette, Dan Blizinski

Open-LIFU is an open-source platform for low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) research. The system emits programmable sequences of steered, focused ultrasound pulses, controlled from a PC application and supported by an Android companion app for transducer localization. Hardware, firmware, Python toolbox, Slicer extension, and desktop application are all open-source.

This documentation is the canonical developer reference for the platform. The release PDF (ER-00015 Rev A) is also available for archival download.

Quick orient

  • System overview

    Three primary components: Console, Transducer (with one or more transmit modules), and a coupling pad. Specifications, system architecture, and hardware components.

    The Open-LIFU System

  • Software development

    Five-layer stack: Desktop App ↔ Slicer Extension ↔ Python ↔ Hardware SDK ↔ Firmware. Plus the Android companion app and transmit-module wiring.

    Software Development

  • Hardware development

    CAD files, mechanical assemblies, and PCB designs released under Creative Commons ShareAlike 4.0.

    Hardware Development

  • Slicer modules

    Advanced research workflow through 3D Slicer: data management, protocol configuration, pre-planning, transducer localization, sonication planning, and sonication.

    Slicer Open-LIFU

What Open-LIFU is

Open-LIFU consists of:

  • A Console that connects to a PC over USB-C. It contains a bipolar high-voltage power supply (up to ±60 V or ±65 V depending on the unit), timing controllers, and communication interfaces.
  • A Transducer in a wearable headset-style housing, containing one or two Transmit Modules (each a 64-element 2D matrix array) and a deformable acoustic coupling pad.
  • An Android companion app for capturing photo collections used in photogrammetric reconstruction of the transducer position relative to a subject MRI.
  • PC software: a Desktop Application built on 3D Slicer, the SlicerOpenLIFU extension, the openlifu Python toolbox, and the openlifu-sdk hardware interface library.

The platform is available in two frequency variants (155 kHz and 400 kHz) and two form factors (1× single-module and 2× dual-module). Custom configurations are supported within the architecture but require recharacterization.

Key properties
Modality Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for neuromodulation research
Frequency variants 155 kHz, 400 kHz
Configurations 1× (single transmit module), 2× (dual transmit module)
Elements per module 64 (8×8 matrix array)
Console power 120 W (±60 V) or 180 W (±65 V), depending on serial number
Host platforms Windows 11+, Linux (Python 3.10–3.12)
Companion app Android 14+ (Pixel 5/7/9/10 officially supported)
Software license AGPL v3
Hardware license CC BY-SA 4.0

Investigational device — research use only

Read before you build

The Open-LIFU platform is not yet cleared by the FDA and is intended for research purposes only. Not for commercial sale.

Reconfiguring or modifying any transducer immediately voids the factory calibration, requiring users to recharacterize the transducer to ensure it complies with all necessary application-specific requirements.

The transducer is not watertight. Never submerge the transducer in water. Doing so may lead to electric shock or damage.

By building, creating, or modifying this hardware or software, you assume all risks. Openwater disclaims all liability for any harm, injury, or damages incurred.

How this documentation is organized

If you want to… Go to
Understand the system at a hardware level The Open-LIFU System
Build, extend, or integrate with the SDK Software Development
Get hardware files for fabrication Hardware Development
Run the advanced Slicer workflow Slicer Open-LIFU
Submit a contribution Contributing
Understand our development process Best Practices

Where to ask questions

This page reflects ER-00015 Revision A, software v1.19.0, released 2026-05-07. For the full controlled-document archive, see the release PDF.